Complete Works of Silius Italicus Read online

  The Complete Works of

  SILIUS ITALICUS

  (c. AD 28–c. 103)

  Contents

  The Translation

  PUNICA

  The Latin Text

  CONTENTS OF THE LATIN TEXT

  Biographical Pieces

  LETTER TO CANINIUS RUFUS by Pliny the Younger

  EPIGRAMS CONCERNING SILIUS ITALICUS by Martial

  INTRODUCTION TO SILIUS ITALICUS by J. D. Duff

  The Delphi Classics Catalogue

  © Delphi Classics 2015

  Version 1

  The Complete Works of

  SILIUS ITALICUS

  By Delphi Classics, 2015

  COPYRIGHT

  Complete Works of Silius Italicus

  First published in the United Kingdom in 2015 by Delphi Classics.

  © Delphi Classics, 2015.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form other than that in which it is published.

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  is an imprint of

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  United Kingdom

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  The Translation

  Ancient remains at Italica, Roman province of Hispania, Spain — the reputed birthplace of Silius Italicus

  PUNICA

  Translated by J. D. Duff

  Composed of seventeen books in dactylic hexameter, comprising some twelve thousand lines, the Punica is the longest surviving Latin poem from antiquity. Its theme is the Second Punic War and the conflict between the two great generals Hannibal and Scipio Africanus. The dates of the epic poem’s composition are not entirely clear. An epigram by Martial, dated to AD 88, describes Silius’ work on the Punica, mentioning Scipio and Hannibal as the subjects of the poem. Another epigram, 7.63, dated to AD 92, also describes Silius’ work on the epic. Two passages of internal evidence also help date the epic. In Book III, during Jupiter’s prophecy about the future of Rome, which describes significant events from the Flavian dynasty and the life of Domitian, such as the death of Vespasian, Titus’ destruction of Jerusalem, Domitian’s adoption of the title Germanicus (AD 83) and the burning of the Capitoline temple in AD 69. Therefore, composition dates for the poem are agreed to range from AD 83 to 96, although since those dates do not include the first two or final three books, they remain approximate.

  The poem is a work of Silius’ old age and his time spent at his Campanian villas, while collecting antiques and giving recitations, presumably of the Punica. According to Martial’s epigrams, the epic poem met with some success and was even compared with Virgil’s Aeneid. As a poet of historical epic, Silius had to make use of both historical sources and poetic models. Livy is considered his single most important historical source, though the poem differs from Livy’s writings by its grandiose tendencies, which are only briefly treated in Livy and Silius’ occasional practice of changing the focus of his narrative. Nevertheless, Silius was not a superficial transmitter of historical sources, but was indeed an accomplished poet, writing more in the vein of Virgil than Livy.

  From the time of Naevius onwards every great military struggle in which the Romans had been engaged had found its poet. Naevius’ influence cannot be gauged because of the almost total loss of his poem on the First Punic War. Silius specifically names Virgil, Homer and Ennius as his main source of inspiration. Virgil is mentioned at 8.593-594, where Silius says of Virgil’s home town Mantua that it was “home of the Muses, raised to the sky by immortal verse, and a match for the lyre of Homer.” Indeed, Virgil is considered Silius’ most omnipresent influence. His contemporaries Pliny the Younger and Martial discuss his almost zealous devotion to the spirit of Virgil, whom Silius is known to have worshipped as a god and whose tomb he actually bought and repaired. Silius frequently employs Virgilian images, similes, tropes and elements in his poetry and the Punica abounds with constant allusions to the Aeneid. Lucan is another significant model for Silius, although the Punica differs dramatically from Lucan’s historical epic by his use of the divine machinery. Silius is closest to Lucan in his treatment of historical description, especially geography and battlefields, his focus on stoicism, the macabre and violence.

  The first book introduces the poet’s theme of the Second Punic War, setting up the conflict between the Roman and Carthaginian nations for supremacy. The betrayal of Dido, familiar from the Aeneid and Juno’s anger stir the goddess to prophesy the course of the war and choose Hannibal as her instrument of revenge. The childhood oath of Hannibal to his father Hamilcar at the Dido temple in Carthage is narrated, and his character is described as vindictive, cunning and daring. The priestess of the temple prophesies the war. Hasdrubal is slaughtered by Spanish Gauls in revenge for his crucifixion of their king and Hannibal succeeds him by the army’s acclaim and attacks Saguntum the situation and Rutulian/Zacynthian history of which are described. The siege begins and Hannibal fights a duel with the Saguntine champion Murrus, who is slain. The Saguntine senate meets and requests that Rome send envoys to stop the siege.

  Silius’ epic poem was rediscovered in a manuscript, possibly at Constance, by Poggio, in c. 1416 and from this sole, now lost manuscript all existing manuscripts are derived. A valuable manuscript of the 8th or 9th century, found at Cologne by L. Carrion in the latter part of the 16th century, disappeared soon after its discovery. Two editiones principes appeared at Rome in 1471; the principal editions since have been those of Heinsius (1600), Drakenborch (1717), Ernesti (Leipzig, 1791) and L. Bauer (1890).

  A marble bust, reputedly of Hannibal (247-181 BC), originally found at the ancient city-state of Capua in Italy

  Bust of Scipio Africanus the Elder (236–183 BC) from the Pushkin Museum, Moscow

  Map of Hannibal’s route of invasion

  CONTENTS

  BOOK I

  BOOK II

  BOOK III

  BOOK IV

  BOOK V

  BOOK VI

  BOOK VII

  BOOK VIII

  BOOK IX

  BOOK X

  BOOK XI

  BOOK XII

  BOOK XIII

  BOOK XIV

  BOOK XV

  BOOK XVI

  BOOK XVII

  A 3rd century AD depiction of Virgil on a mosaic from Hadrumetum. Virgil was Silius’ greatest inspiration.

  ‘Silius Italicus at the Tomb of Virgil’ by Joseph Wright of Derby

  ‘The Vision of a Knight’ by Raphael is based on an episode in Book 15 of the ‘Punica’: The Choice of Scipio.

  BOOK I

  ARGUMENT

  THE SUBJECT OF THE POEM IS THE SECOND PUNIC WAR (1-20). THE CAUSE OF THE WAR WAS JUNO’S HATRED OF ROME. SHE CHOOSES HANNIBAL AS HER INSTRUMENT (21-55). HANNIBAL’S CHARACTER, AND THE OATH HE SWORE IN BOYHOOD (56-139). HASDRUBAL SUCCEEDS HAMILCAR AS COMMANDER IN SPAIN: HIS CHARACTER, CONQUESTS, AND DEATH (140-181). HANNIBAL IS CHOSEN TO SUCCEED HASDRUBAL BY ALL THE ARMY IN SPAIN, BOTH CARTHAGINIANS AND SPANIARDS (182-238). CHARACTER OF HANNIBAL (239-267). HE RESOLVES TO ATTACK SAGUNTUM: POSITION AND HISTORY OF THE CITY (268-295). THE SIEGE OF SAGUNTUM (296-II. 695). THE SAGUNTINES SEND AN EMBASSY TO ROME: THE SPEECH OF SICORIS (564-671). IN THE SENATE CN. CORNELIUS LENTULUS AND Q. FABIUS MAXIMUS EXPRESS DIFFERENT VIEWS: ENVOYS ARE SENT TO HANNIBAL (672-694).

  HERE I begin the war by which the fame of the Aeneadae was raised to heaven and proud Carthage submitted to the rule of Italy. Grant me, O Muse, to record the splendid achiev
ements of Italy in ancient days, and to tell of all those heroes whom Rome brought forth for the strife, when the people of Cadmus broke their solemn bond and began the contest for sovereignty; and for long it remained uncertain, on which of the two citadels Fortune would establish the capital of the world. Thrice over with unholy warfare did the Carthaginian leaders violate their compact with the Senate and the treaty they had sworn by Jupiter to observe; and thrice over the lawless sword induced them wantonly to break the peace they had approved. But in the second war each nation strove to destroy and exterminate her rival, and those to whom victory was granted came nearer to destruction: in it a Roman general stormed the citadel of Carthage, the Palatine was surrounded and besieged by Hannibal, and Rome made good her safety by her walls alone.

  The causes of such fierce anger, the hatred maintained with unabated fury, the war bequeathed by sire to son and by son to grandson — these things I am permitted to reveal, and to disclose the purposes of Heaven. And now I shall begin by tracing the origin of this great upheaval.

  When Dido long ago fled across the sea from the land of Pygmalion, leaving behind her the realm polluted by her brother’s guilt, she landed on the destined shore of Libya. There she bought land for a price and founded a new city, where she was permitted to lay strips of a bull’s hide round the strand. Here — so remote antiquity believed — Juno elected to found for the exiles a nation to last for ever, preferring it to Argos, and to Mycenae, the city of Agamemnon and her chosen dwelling-place. But when she saw Rome lifting her head high among aspiring cities, and even sending fleets across the sea to carry her victorious standards over all the earth, then the goddess felt the danger close and stirred up in the minds of the Phoenicians a frenzy for war. But the effort of their first campaign was crushed, and the enterprise of the Carthaginians was wrecked on the Sicilian sea; and then Juno took up the sword again for a fresh conflict. When she upset all things on earth and was preparing to stir up the sea, she found a sufficient instrument in a single leader.

  Now warlike Hannibal clothed himself with all the wrath of the goddess; his single arm she dared to match against destiny. Then, rejoicing in that man of blood, and aware of the fierce storm of disasters in store for the realm of Latinus, she spoke thus: “In defiance of me, the exile from Troy brought Dardania to Latium, together with his household gods — deities that were twice taken prisoners; and he gained a victory and founded a kingdom for the Teucrians at Lavinium. That may pass — provided that the banks of the Ticinus cannot contain the Roman dead, and that the Trebia, obedient to me, shall flow backwards through the fields of Gaul, blocked by the blood of Romans and their weapons and the corpses of men; provided that Lake Trasimene shall be terrified by its own pools darkened with streams of gore, and that I shall see from heaven Cannae, the grave of Italy, and the Iapygian plain inundated with Roman blood, while the Aufidus, doubtful of its course as its banks close in, can hardly force a passage to the Adriatic shore through shields and helmets and severed limbs of men.” With these words she fired the youthful warrior for deeds of battle.

  By nature he was eager for action and faithless to his plighted word, a past master in cunning but a strayer from justice. Once armed, he had no respect for Heaven; he was brave for evil and despised the glory of peace; and a thirst for human blood burned in his inmost heart. Besides all this, his youthful vigour longed to blot out the Aegates, the shame of the last generation, and to drown the treaty of peace in the Sicilian sea. Juno inspired him and tormented his spirit with ambition. Already, in visions of the night, he either stormed the Capitol or marched at speed over the summits of the Alps. Often too the servants who slept at his door were roused and terrified by a fierce cry that broke the desolate silence, and found their master dripping with sweat, while he fought battles still to come and waged imaginary warfare.

  When he was a mere child, his father’s passion had kindled in Hannibal this frenzy against Italy and the realm of Saturn, and started him on his glorious career. Hamilcar, sprung from the Tyrian house of ancient Barcas, reckoned his long descent from Belus. For, when Dido lost her husband and fled from a Tyre reduced to slavery, the young scion of Belus had escaped the unrighteous sword of the dread tyrant, and had joined his fortunes with hers for weal or woe. Thus nobly born and a proved warrior, Hamilcar, as soon as Hannibal could speak and utter his first distinct words, sowed war with Rome in the boy’s heart; and well he knew how to feed angry passions.

  In the centre of Carthage stood a temple, sacred to the spirit of Elissa, the foundress, and regarded with hereditary awe by the people. Round it stood yew-trees and pines with their melancholy shade, which hid it and kept away the light of heaven. Here, as it was reported, the queen had cast off long ago the ills that flesh is heir to. Statues of mournful marble stood there — Belus, the founder of the race, and all the line descended from Belus; Agenor also, the nation’s boast, and Phoenix who gave a lasting name to his country. There Dido herself was seated, at last united for ever to Sychaeus; and at her feet lay the Trojan sword. A hundred altars stood here in order, sacred to the gods of heaven and the lord of Erebus. Here the priestess with streaming hair and Stygian garb calls up Acheron and the divinity of Henna’s goddess. The earth rumbles in the gloom and breaks forth into awesome hissings; and fire blazes unkindled upon the altars. The dead also are called up by magic spells and flit through empty space; and the marble face of Elissa sweats. To this shrine Hannibal was brought by his father’s command; and, when he had entered, Hamilcar examined the boy’s face and bearing. No terrors for him had the Massylian priestess, raving in her frenzy, or the horrid rites of the temple, the blood-bespattered doors, and the flames that mounted at the sound of incantation. His father stroked the boy’s head and kissed him; then he raised his courage by exhortation and thus inspired him:

  “The restored race of Phrygians is oppressing with unjust treaties the people of Cadmean stock. If fate does not permit my right hand to avert this dishonour from our land, you, my son, must choose this as your field of fame. Be quick to swear a war that shall bring destruction to the Laurentines; let the Tuscan people already dread your birth; and when you, my son, arise, let Latian mothers refuse to rear their offspring.”

  With these incentives he spurred on the boy and then dictated a vow not easy to utter: “When I come to age, I shall pursue the Romans with fire and sword and enact again the doom of Troy. The gods shall not stop my career, nor the treaty that bars the sword, neither the lofty Alps nor the Tarpeian rock. I swear to this purpose by the divinity of our native god of war, and by the shade of Elissa.” Then a black victim was sacrificed to the goddess of triple shape; and the priestess, seeking an oracle, quickly opened the still breathing body and questioned the spirit, as it fled from the inward parts that she had laid bare in haste.

  But when, following the custom of her ancient art, she had entered into the mind of the gods whom she inquired of, thus she spoke aloud: “I see the Aetolian fields covered far and wide with soldiers’ corpses, and lakes red with Trojan blood. How huge the rampart of cliffs that rises far towards heaven! And on its airy summit your camp is perched. Now the army rushes down from the mountains; terrified cities send up smoke, and the land that lies beneath the western heavens blazes with Punic fires. See! the river Po runs blood. Fierce is that face that lies on a heap of arms and men — the face of him who was the third to carry in triumph choice spoils to the Thunder-god. Ah! what wild storm is this that rages with sudden downpour, while the sky is rent asunder and the fiery ether flashes! The gods are preparing mighty things, the throne of high heaven thunders, and I see Jupiter in arms.” Then Juno forbade her to learn more of coming events, and the victims suddenly became dumb. The dangers and the endless hardships were concealed.

  So Hamilcar left his design of war concealed in his secret heart, and made for Calpe and Gades, the limit of the world; but, while carrying the standards of Africa to the Pillars of Hercules, he fell in a hard-fought battle.

  Meanwhile
the direction of affairs was handed over to Hasdrubal; and he harried with savage cruelty the wealth of the western world, the people of Spain, and the dwellers beside the Baetis. Hard was the general’s heart, and nothing could mitigate his ferocious temper; power he valued because it gave him the opportunity to be cruel. Thirst for blood hardened his heart; and he had the folly to believe that to be feared is glory. Nor was he willing to sate his rage with ordinary punishments. Tagus, a man of ancient race, remarkable for beauty and of proved valour, Hasdrubal, defying gods and men, fastened high on a wooden cross, and displayed in triumph to the sorrowing natives the unburied body of their king. Tagus, who had taken his name from the gold-bearing river, was mourned by the Nymphs of Spain through all their caves and banks; nor would he have preferred the river of Maeonia and the pools of Lydia, nor the plain watered by flowing gold and turned yellow by the sands of Hermus pouring over it. Ever first to enter the battle and last to lay down the sword, when he sat high on his steed and urged it on with loosened reins, no sword could stop him nor spear hurled from far; on he flew in triumph, and the golden armour of Tagus was well known throughout both armies. Then a servant, when he saw that hideous death and the body of Tagus hanging on the fatal tree, stole his master’s favourite sword and rushed into the palace, where he smote that savage breast once and again. Carthaginians are cruel; and now’, in their anger and grief, they made haste to bring the tortures. Every device was used — fire and white-hot steel, scourges that cut the body to ribbons with a rain of blows past counting, the hands of the torturers, the agony driven home into the marrow, the flame burning in the heart of the wound. Dreadful to see and even to relate, the limbs were expanded by the torturers’ ingenuity and grew as much as the torment required; and, when all the blood had gushed forth, the bones still smoked and burned on, after the limbs were consumed. But the man’s spirit remained unbroken; he was the master still and. despised the suffering; like a mere looker-on he blamed the myrmidons of the torturer for flagging in their task and loudly demanded to be crucified like his master.